Tumor Proliferation Through Sialic Acid Dynamics and Anti-Siglec-Sialoglycans Preventive Strategies

: Glycans, carbohydrates on cell membranes, are often overexpressed in cancer cells. Sialic acid, a sugar found at the terminal branch of glycans, plays a vital role in carbohydrate-protein interactions, intercellular communication, and bacterial or viral infections. However, hypersialylation of glycans has been linked to hallmarks of cancer such as tumor growth, angiogenesis, metastasis, and resistance to immune cells. Upregulation of sialylation promotes evasion of immune surveillance and survival of malignant cells. Given this role of sialic acid, inhibiting the sialylation of glycans could provide quantum leaps in treating cancer. Over-sialylation is significant to cancer mechanisms (growth, metastasis, and immune evasion); therefore, a high therapeutic value could be found in preventing sialic acid’s role in cancer. This paper reviews how sialic acid plays a key role in assisting the growth and survival of cancer cells, despite human immune cells' attacks; it also summarizes findings that encourage removing hypersialiated glycans as a strategy against multiple cancerous cell types.